Thinking of moving to Virginia from Michigan. Need some advise... (Roanoke: housing, job)

[kwhitt]

My husband and I are thinking of moving to Virginia. He is a Computer Tech and I have been trying to find a teaching job for art k-12 or high school/middle school level English (I Just graduated last May). We're looking for a smaller city with a high percentage of people age 20-35, Good schools, and decent, affordable housing for a couple just starting out. A nearby college or university would be a bonus. Any advise or opinions about where we might find this in the state?

[seanpecor]

You might consider the Roanoke Valley or just next door, Blacksburg in the New River Valley. I have friends (Lex and Linda) who moved from Michigan about a year ago to the New River Valley. Linda had just graduated and is now teaching in the Pulaski County school system. They're paying for her Masters now (Virginia is doing so for many young teachers that I know). Lex works for Southland Log Homes. They live in Christiansburg, which is just south of Blacksburg. I live just south of the Roanoke Valley, where there is also a need for more teachers. You'd do well to live in either valley, although I think the Roanoke Valley would be more to your liking and if you have specific questions you can ask them here or PM me. You can also search through my posts, I've spent a lot of time recently talking about the Roanoke area in these forums.

Cheers,

Sean